Ski waxing device



July 24, 1962 J. KURLANDER ErAL 3,045,639

SKI WAXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00T.. 6, 1959 G F LN o .afloowo M INVENTORS John Kur/ander Haro/d Alf/len by h/w/wi, *11M July 24, 1962 J. KuRLANDx-:R ETAL 3,045,639

SKI WAXING DEVICE Filed 001'.. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s., J l Y m l .w l m m l n t h M I @w w A @w MVM IIIVI m W I m J J H du@ QN IMI WML-MM um Il lH M Illn nited States The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying wax to skis which are secured on the feet of a skier.

Heretofore it has generally been most convenient to remove skis from the feet of a skier in order to wax the running surfaces of the skis. This is because it is too awkward for the skier himself to reach these surfaces while the skis are secured to his feet.

A need for an automatic device for applying a uniformly thick coating of wax to the running surfaces of skis while the skis are still on the feet of the skier has thus made itself felt. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which fulfills this need.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide -a ski waxing device which can be permanently erected out of doors at the start of the skiing season vand which mean lbe adjusted for use regardless :of the depth of snow which accumulates during the season, thus making it unnecessary to provide special access to or shelter for such a device.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide as -a part of the apparatus means which will clean excess snow from the running surfaces of the skis and condition them for receiving a coating of wax as well as apply the wax coating, all of said operations taking place as the skier moves over fthe apparatus with his skis secured to his feet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the foregoing objects, which apparatus is extremely simple in operation, which uses little power, and which is very easily erected, maintained and dismantled.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in w-hich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the ski waxing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view, also partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation view, on an enlarged scale, of the -ski waxing means of the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

F-IG. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of wax applying means;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another modied form of wax applying means; and

FIG. Sis a sectional view of still another modified form of wax applying means.

The `apparatus comprises Ia supporting frame which has four hollow support posts 1i) set into post sockets 11 in concrete base members 12 sunk into the ground G. The concrete base members 12 are positioned at the four corners of a rectangle, Each of the support posts has a plurality of apertures 13 therein. Slidable within the upper ends of each of the support posts 10 is at least one extension post 14, which also has apertures therein, apertures 15 being spaced from each other the same distance as the apertures 13 in the support posts 10. r['-he extension posts 14 are positioned relative to the support posts 10 by means of pins (not shown) or similar fastening devices conventional in the art. Extending between pairs of the support posts 10 are roller frame supports 16, which are also secured on the support posts 10 or the extension posts 14 by pins or the like.

Secured on the roller frame supports 16 and supported thereby is the roller frame vll7 On the frame 17 is a cover 17C having a series of apertures 17b therein. Rotatably mounted between slide walls `i of the roller frame 1'7 are a plurality of idler rollers 18 which are spaced at short intervals along the length of the roller frame 17, except for a portion of the length of the frame near the center thereof. The rollers 18 project through apertures 17b in cover 17a.

Suspended from the roller frame 17 near the center thereof is an enclosure 19 which contains within it at least means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of the skis, and means for applying a coating of Wax, together with a reservoir of wax and means for driving such parts of the apparatus as have to be driven. Optionally the enclosure 19 may contain means for conditioning the running surfaces for receiving a coating of wax. The roller frame 17 serves as a partial cover for enclosure 19. The enclosure is positioned on the roller frame y17 such that one end of the enclosure is adjacent the position of the roller frame where there is an appreciable gap between idler rollers. In place of one of the idler rollers 18, there is rotatably mounted a means for removing snow from the running surfaces of skis, here shown in the form of a rotatable brush 2t). A snow chute 21 is mounted on the IWall of the enclosure 19 and extends from adjacent the periphery of the rotatable brush 20 through the wall to outside of the enclosure.

A plurality of idler rollers 18 are mounted following the rotatable brush 20, and between two of these idler rollers is mounted, when it is desired to include it, the means for conditioning the running surfaces of the skis to receive a coating of wax, here shown as a hot air blower 22 which is of the type having a fan means driven by a small electric motor and resistance beating elements on the exhaust side o-f the fan means. The hot air blower 22 has a duct 23 on the exhaust side of the fan means which has a mouth that extends across the entire width of the roller frame 17.

In a second gap in the idler rollers 18 along the frame 17 is positioned the means for applying a coating of wax, shown in FIG. 3 as a wax applying roller 24, the ends of which are mounted in bearings 25. Bearings 25 are mounted on springs 25a. Immediately beneath the wax applying roller 24 is a reservoir for wax, shown in the form of an insulated tank 26. The springs 25 are here shown mounted on the walls of the tank 26, the axle 24a being movable in slots 26a in the tank Wall. Of course other mountings are possible. Access to the tank 26 is through a cover 27, and within the tank is positioned a wax pick-up roller 28 which is rotatably mounted on hangers 28a suspended from axle 24a. Roller 28 iS in contact wit-h the wax applying roller 24. Heating means are provided for the wax reservoir, and are here shown in the form of resistance type heating elements 29 in the bottom of the tank 26. These elements are controlled by a thermostat 30.

, The means for driving the apparatus are also mounted within the enclosure 19, and are here shown as an electric motor 31 which `drives the rotatable brush 20 in a direction toward the chute 2.1 by means of a belt 32. A belt 33 extends from the rotatable brush 20 to an idler pulley 34, and a further belt 35 extends from the idler pulley 34 to the wax applying roller 24. Other drive arrangements are of course possible, for example the rotatable 'brush and `wax applying rollers could be driven by separate motors, as the fan means of the hot air Iblower is in the present embodiment, or all of the rotating parts could be driven from the single electric motor 31. The electrical parts of the apparatus are fused by means `of fuses in fuse box 36.

The apparatus is assembled by placing the support posts 10 in the post sockets 11 and then mounting the roller frame supports 16 between the support posts 10 or between the extension posts 14, depending on the depth of snows and the consequent level of the surface of the snow. The extension posts 14 may of course be adjusted up or down depending on the level of the surface of the snow. As the season progresses and more snow ac cumulates, the extension posts may be moved up and the roller frame supports 16 may be moved up to the level of the snow. The roller frame support 16 which is at the end of the device toward which the wax applying means in the enclosure 19 is positioned is placed as a slightly lower level than the other end.

The roller frame 17 is then mounted between the roller frame supports 16, and the tank 26 is iilled with wax up to a level near the top of the wax pick-up roller 28, and the thermostat 30 is set so that the wax is kept at a suitable temperature for being conveyed to the wax applying roller 24. The motor 31 and the hot air blower 22 are then started. The apparatus is now ready for use.

When a skier desires to have his skis waxed, he merely stands on the idler rollers 18 at the higher end of the roller frame 17, and the force of gravity causes him to roll down the rollers on his skis. As the skis pass over the rotatable brush 20, the brush brushes snow from the skis and the snow slides down the chute 21 out of the enclosure 19. The skis next pass over the hot air blower 22, if it is provided, where the hot air melts any snow remaining on the skis and dries the running surface thereof. The skis next strike the wax applying roller 24, pressing it down in its spring mounting so that it is at a level with the other rollers 18 and in iirm contact with the running surface of the skis. Since this roller is already rotating, it is continuously picking up wax from the wax pick-up roller with which it is in contact. After the skis have passed over the wax applying roller 24, the skier rolls on down the remaining idler rollers 18 to the end of the apparatus. The coating of wax applied by the wax applying roller is sufficiently thin that it dries almost immediately, thereby preventing waX from being transferred to the idler rollers 18 over which the skis pass after they have been coated.

In order to provide the skier with means to steady himself during the movement over the apparatus, hand `rails 37 may be mounted on the support posts 10 or the extension posts 14 at a suitable height above the roller frame 17.

It is not essential that the roller frame be inclined in the direction in which the skis are to pass over the apparatus. The roller frame could be level and the skier could pull himself along the roller frame, or part or all of the idler rollers 18 could be replaced by driven rollers which would drive the skier along the apparatus.

Moreover, it is not essential that the driving means for the apparatus be turned `on and left running. It would be within the scope of the present invention to provide starting and stopping switches at the respective ends of the roller frame which would be turned Ion and off by the skis moving over the roller frame.

The form of the wax applying means may be varied. As seen in FIG. 6, the wax applying means may take the form of a fountain brush 40 which is positioned with the tops of the bristles just above the level of the tops of the idler rollers 18. Wax is supplied through a conduit 41 and a passage 42 in the brush base 43. A thermostatic arrangement similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 3 should be provided to keep the wax at the proper temperature so that after the passage through the brush Vit is at the best temperature for 'brushing onto the skis. It may also be necessary to rearrange the position of the tank 26 so that the ow of wax to the brush 40 may be by gravity. Alternatively, a pump may be provided, which pump may be driven from the motor 31.

As seen in FIG. 7, the wax applying means has the form of a felt pad 44 which is positioned so that the top surface of the pad is just above the level of the tops of the rollers 18. The bottom of the pad is in the wax contained in the tank 26, the felt acting as a wick to lift the wax from the tank. A thermostatic control is also necessary with this embodiment, but the drive from the motor 31 need not be supplied to the wax applying means.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the wax applying means which takes the `form of a spraying device. There is positioned below the level of the tops of the rollers 18 at least one spray nozzle 45, which is supplied with air from a tank 46 of compressed air. The supply line 47 has a solenoid valve 48 therein which is controlled by limit switches 49 and 50 on either side of the spray nozzle 45. Immediately ahead of the nozzle is `a supply line 51 from the tank 26 for the Wax, the shapes of the nozzle at this point being that of a venturi tube.

The circuit for the limit switches and the solenoid valve is closed by the ski hitting the limit switch 49 just ahead of the spray nozzle 45. This switch is closed, thus energizing the solenoid valve 48 to open it. The wax is then drawn iup through the supply line 51 and sprayed together with `the air onto the skis through an aperture 17d in cover 17C. The ski then closes the limit switch 50 on the other side of the spray nozzle 45, energizing the holding relay 52. This in turn closes bypass switch 53 and keeps the solenoid valve open until the end of the ski passes over the switch 50. At this time, the switch 49 will be open, the end of ythe ski already having passed this switch, and with the deenergization of the relay 52, switch 53 will deenergize the whole circuit to the solenoid valve, thus closing it until the next skis hit the switch 49.

Naturally other limit switch control circuits could be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention, the present circuit merely being an example of how control of the air ow to the nozzle can be controlled so asV not to cause wax to be sprayed unless skis are moving over Ithe nozzle.

It is thought that the invention land its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the par-ts without departing ffrom the spirit and scope of the invention or sacricing its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

We claim:

1. A ski waxing device comprising a plurality of substantially vertically extending extensible support posts, roller frame supports adjustably mounted between said support posts, la roller frame mounted on said roller frame supports and having a plurality of rollers at intervals therealong, hand rails adjustably mounted between said support posts above and parallel to said roller frame, an enclosure suspended from said roller frame, and means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of skis, means for conditioning the running surfaces of skis for receiving wax, and means for applying la coating of wax, said means mounted in said enclosure in the recited sequence, whereby skis moving along the rollers on said roller frame with the running surfaces on the roller having the snow removed therefrom, have the running surfaces conditioned for receiving a coating of wax `and have a coating of wax applied thereto.

2. A ski waxing device comprising a plurality of substantially vertically extending extensible support posts, roller `frame supports adjustably mounted between said support posts, a roller frame mounted on said roller frame supports :and having `a plurality of idler rollers at intervals therealong, one end of said roller frame being at a level lower than the other end of said roller frame, hand r-ails adjustably mounted between said support posts above and parallel to said roller frame, an enclosure suspended from said roller frame, means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of the skis, means `for conditioning the running surfaces of -skis for receiving wax, and means for applying a coa-ting of wax, said means mounted in said enclosure in the recited sequence, said means for applying Ka coating of wax being adjacent the lower end of said roller frame, and a heated reservoir for wax in said enclosure connected to said wax applying means, whereby skis moving along said rollers on said roller frame under the effect of gravity with the running surfaces on the rollers have the snow removed therefrom, have the running surfaces conditioned for receiving a coating of wax, and have a coating of wax applied thereto.

3. A `ski waxing `device -as claimed in claim 2 in which said means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of skis comprise a rotatable brush rotatable in a direction such that the portion of the brush in contact with the surface of the skis moves in the opposite direction from the direction of movement of the skis, and a chute adjacent said brush extending through said enclosure.

4. A ski waxing device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means for conditioning the running surfaces of the skis for receiving a coating of wax comprises a hot air blower having a duct thereon projecting between two of the rollers on said roller frame and having a mouth extending across the entire width of said roller frame.

5. A ski waxing device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means for applying a coating of wax comprise a wax applying roller between two of said rollers on said roller frame, spring mounted Ifor resilient movement in a substantially vertical direction, and a wax pick-up roller suspended from said wax applying roller and in rolling contact therewith and positioned within said wax reservoir.

6. A ski waxing device comprising a roller frame having a plurality of rollers at intervals therealong, an enclosure suspended from said roller frame, and means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of skis, a hot air blower having a duct thereon projecting between two of the rollers on said roller frame and having a mouth extending across the entire Width of Isaid roller lframe for conditioning the running surfaces of skis for receiving wax, and means for applying a coating of wax, mounted in said enclosure in the recited sequence, and a heated reservoir for 1wax in said enclosure connected to said wax applying means whereby skis moving along the rollers on the Isaid roller frame with the running surfaces on the rollers have the snow removed therefrom, have the running surfaces conditioned for receiving a coating of wax and have a coating of wax applied thereto.

7. A ski waxing device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of skis comprise a rotatable brush rotatable in a direction such that the portion of the brush in contact with the surface of the skis moves in the opposite direction from the direction of movement of the skis, and a chute adjacent said brush extending through said enclosure.

8. A ski waxing device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means' for applying a coating of wax comprise a wax applying roller between two of said -rollers on said roller frame, spring mounted for resilient movement in a substantially vertical direction, and a wax pick-up roller suspended from said wax applying roller and in rolling contact therewith and positioned said wax reservo1r.

9. A ski Waxing device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for applying a coating of Wax comprise a `fountain brush between two of said rollers on said roller frame, and conduit means connected between said fountain brush and said wax reservoir.

l0. A ski waxing device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for applying a coating of Wax comprise a felt pad between two of said rollers on said roller frame, the upper surface of said pad being substantially at the level of the tops of said rollers and the lower portion of said pad being at a level Within said wax reservoir such that it will always be immersed in the wax therein.

11. A ski waxing device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for applying a coating of wax comprise a spray -nozzle and a source of compressed to which it is connected, said spray nozzle having a venturi tube section therein and a conduit to said wax reservoir from said venturi section, a valve means between said nozzle and said source of compressed air, and a limit switch circuit connected to said valve means and having limit switches therein positioned to be eng-aged by skis as they pass over said -nozzle for controlling the opening and closing of said valve means so that Wax is sprayed only during the passage of skis over said nozzle.

12. A ski waxing `device comprising a plurality of substantially vertically extending extensible support posts, roller frame supports adjustably mounted between said support posts, a roller frame mounted on said roller frame supports and having a plurality of rollers at intervals therealong, hand rails adjustably mounted between said support posts above and parallel to said Iroller frame, an enclosure suspended from said roller frame, .and means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of skis, and means for applying a coating of wax, said means mounted in said enclosure in the recited sequence, whereby skis moving along the rollers on said roller frame with the run-ning surfaces on the roller :having the snow removed therefrom and having a coating of wax applied thereto.

13. A ski waxing device comprising a plurality of substantial-ly vertically extending extensible support posts, roller frame supports adjustably mounted between said support posts, a roller frame mounted 011 said roller frame supports and having a plurality of idler rollers at intervals therealong, one end of said roller frame being at a level lower than the other end of said roller frame, hand rails adjustably mounted between said support posts above and parallel to said roller frame, an enclosure suspended from said roller frame, means for cleaning snow from the running surfaces of the skis, and means for applying a 'coating of Wax, said means mounted in said enclosure in the recited sequence, said means for applying a coating of wax being adjacent the lower end of said roller frame, and a heated reservoir for wax in said enclosure connected to said wax applying means, whereby skis moving along said rollers on said roller frame under the effect of gravity with the running surfaces on the rollers have the snow removed therefrom, and have a coating of wax applied thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,511 Coulombe Jan. 9, 1951 2,747,539' Peffer May 29, 1956 2,898,618 Whitfield et al. 4. Aug. 11, `1959 2,908,246 Alexander et al. Oct. 13, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 128,411 Austria May 25, 1932 1,042,444 Germany 1.. Oct. 30, 19,58 

